OUR VANISHING SILVER COINAGE.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20881, 14 June 1933, Page 15

OUR VANISHING SILVER COINAGE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PBESS. Sir,—Your correspondent Nino Di Somma takes credit for having warned our Government that silver coins were being smuggled out of the country. I am not in the confidence of the Government, but from reports in "The Press" of a prosecution which took place ins Sydney, quite six months ago, the New Zealarid Government was aware of it, and did its best to stop it. The temptation to smuggle commehced with the high rate of exchange, and I am quite satisfied that the Government foresaw the evil and took steps to prevent it. It did not wait for your correspondent's warning* What it -ought to have done then was to call in all the British silver and substitute Australian. I again repeat that our Government is supplied with silver coin at about two-fifths of its face value on the understanding that it shall be used within th® Dominion, and that an Englishman'# word is his bond. I have never said that it was no evil to smuggle; I said quite the contrary. ; I now repeat, that I hope everyone who attempts it; will be caught and adequately pun-; ished* i Your correspondent's last taunt is hardly Worthy at notice, only to say itis In keeping with his waning to the Government nonsensical—Yours, snaplllß SIMON.